It was a pulsating semi-final showdown with a dramatic script that would be rejected by film-makers as being too far fetched.

We had David v Goliath, a full house, a spirited ten man fight-back from two down, a dodgy penalty, a perfectly good goal ruled out for the minnows and then, when the Second Division side looked down and out, a last gasp leveller to earn a replay.

With Boro already having played out a 1-1 Coca-Cola Cup final draw with Leicester - the replay was set for three days later at Hillsborough - the stage was set for Bryan Robson's side to clinch a Twin Towers dream double.

But plucky Chesterfield had other ideas. Roared on by 12,000 fans, more than four times their usual Saltergate crowd, they had a bright start as both sides made early raids.

The game swung the minnows' way on 37 minutes as Boro left-back Vlad Kinder was beaten for pace by Kevin Davies and blatantly pulled him back. Having just been booked for kicking the ball away he could have no complaints when the second yellow then the red appeared.

Robson put on Clayton Blackmore for Mikkel Beck but having the extra man gave Chesterfield a boost and suddenly they looked a threat.

Boro had a let-off soon after the break as John Howard broke free in the box, only to blaze wide of Ben Roberts' open goal.

But they were back to take the lead on 54 minutes as Andy Morris poked home after a scramble then on the hour it was two as Morris sprawled theatrically over Roberts outstretched foot and Sean Dyche slammed home the resulting spot kick to leave Boro facing an ignominious exit.

Boro grabbed a lifeline within four minutes as Blackmore overlapped down the left then squared into the box for Fabrizio Ravanelli to rifle home.

John Duncan's team should have gone 3-1 ahead soon after as a good move took Howard into the box to thump in a shot that bounced down off the bar and well over the line, but referee David Elleray disallowed it for a mystery infringement in the box.

Then another refereeing gaffe handed Boro an equaliser on 70 minutes as Dyche brought down Juninho just outside the box but Elleray pointed to the spot and then after furious Chesterfield protests were waved away Craig Hignett rammed home the penalty.

As the Spirites lost their composure and started to flag Boro had chances to finish and looked sharper and fitter going into extra-time.

The big boys appeared to have completed their comeback on 100 minutes as Italian defender Gianluca Festa joined the attack and slammed home from close range to put Boro ahead for the first time.

And, in a barnstorming finish, Juninho took centre stage as Boro carved out chance after chance to wrap it up.

But they failed to put them away and then were left stunned as Chesterfield wriggled off the hook and broke out for Jamie Hewitt to head home a deserved equaliser in the final minute.

Chesterfield were delighted and felt vindicated to have a second crack at a game they believed that, but for the referee, they would have won. Boro were relieved to have clawed back a game that looked lost and felt that with 11 men in the replay their dream of a quickfire Wembley return was back on track.